BACKGROUND Parent-child communication is an effective tool for fostering healthy sexual and reproductive behaviours among adolescents. However, the topic is underexplored in Nigeria. This study examines how parents and caregivers communicate sexual and reproductive health-related matters with adolescents aged 13-18 years in Nigeria. METHOD The study was undertaken in six communities in Ebonyi state, Nigeria using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data were collected through, i) cluster randomized survey of 1057 adolescents aged 13-18 years, ii) twelve sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with adolescents aged 13 to 18 years, and iii) eight in-depth interviews with parents and caregivers. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed for quantitative data, while qualitative data were analysed using thematic framework approach. RESULTS Less than half (47.9%) of adolescents in the survey reported ever discussing sex-related matters with anyone. Three-quarters of those who had this discussion did so with a friend/peer and this had significant correlation with sex/gender (p = 0.04). Out of 1057 adolescents who participated in the survey only 4.5% had ever discussed sex-related matters with a parent and this correlated significantly with wealth index (p = 0.003). Findings from qualitative interviews show that sex-related discussions between parents and adolescents are sporadic, mostly triggered by unpleasant occurrences, and consist of, i) information on pubertal changes, ii) warnings against intersex relationships and premarital sex, iii) promotion of abstinence, and iv) warnings against teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Some parents were of the opinion that sex-related matters should not be discussed with adolescents because it could be interpreted as tolerance for sexual promiscuity. Overall, parents expressed that their capacity to discuss sex-related matters with adolescents is limited by lack of knowledge, and restrictive religious and cultural norms about adolescent sexuality. CONCLUSION Communication between parents and adolescents on sexual health and reproductive-related matters rarely occurs. However, when it does, it mostly consists of strict warnings that may not protect adolescents from making unhealthy sexual and reproductive health choices. Interventions to improve parent-adolescent communication of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) should aim at improving parents' capacity to communicate sexual and reproductive health matters, and deconstructing sociocultural norms around adolescent sexuality.

中文翻译：

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探索尼日利亚埃博尼州青少年的看护人和父母与性健康和生殖健康问题的沟通问题。

背景技术亲子交流是在青少年中促进健康的性行为和生殖行为的有效工具。但是，该主题在尼日利亚尚未被开发。这项研究研究了父母和照顾者如何与尼日利亚13至18岁的青少年交流与性健康和生殖健康相关的问题。方法本研究在尼日利亚Ebonyi州的六个社区中使用定量和定性研究方法进行。通过以下方式收集数据：i）对1057名13-18岁的青少年进行分组随机调查，ii）与13至18岁的青少年进行十二次按性别分类的焦点小组讨论，以及iii）与父母和看护人进行八次深度访谈。对定量数据进行单变量和双变量分析，同时使用主题框架方法对定性数据进行分析。结果在调查中，不到一半的青少年（47.9％）曾与任何人讨论过与性相关的问题。四分之三的讨论对象是与朋友/同龄人进行的，这与性别/性别有显着相关性（p = 0.04）。在参加调查的1057名青少年中，只有4.5％曾与父母讨论过与性有关的事情，而这与财富指数显着相关（p = 0.003）。定性访谈的结果表明，父母与青少年之间与性有关的讨论是零星的，主要是由不愉快的事件引起的，包括：i）有关青春期变化的信息，ii）反对两性关系和婚前性行为的警告，iii）促进禁欲， iv）禁止青少年怀孕和不安全堕胎的警告。一些父母认为，不应将与性有关的问题与青少年讨论，因为这可以解释为对性滥交的容忍。总体而言，父母表示，由于缺乏知识以及关于青少年性行为的限制性宗教和文化规范，他们与青少年讨论与性有关的问题的能力受到限制。结论父母与青少年之间很少就性健康和生殖相关问题进行沟通。但是，这样做时，它主要由严格的警告组成，可能无法保护青少年避免做出不健康的性健康和生殖健康选择。旨在改善父母与青少年之间性健康和生殖健康沟通的干预措施应旨在提高父母沟通性健康和生殖健康问题的能力，